THE COVERED BRIDGE
When the dam between the pond and the brook needed to be rebuilt a number of years ago, it was structurally built to be able to someday support a pedestrian covered bridge. The thought was the bridge would provide not only year round access (engineered to support a small piston bully for snow grooming purposes in the winter for xc trails) but also to link a continuous path around the entire pond as well as being a visually attractive and unique structure on the Gunstock property.
The Bridge Specifications
Dimensions:
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Overall Length (at abutments): 30'-8"
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Overall width: 18'-0"
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Height (deck to roof ridge): 14'-3"
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Portal Opening: 14'-0" wide, 10'-0" high
Materials:
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Roof: Standing Seam Metal, Painted Trusses, Roof & Deck Framing (Eastern White Pine or Eastern Spruce)
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Board Siding: White Pine
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Deck Planks: White or Red Oak
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Abutments: Existing Concrete Dam, Constructed in 2003
Load Capacity:
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HlS (15-ton 2 axle vehicle) or PistenBully 100 ((13,700 lbs. gross weight)
Truss Type:
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2-Span, Asymmetric, Modified Queenpost
WHAT'S NEEDED
We are hoping to get a large part of our materials donated which will support efforts for in-kind participating on our grant applications.
There are a lot of specifics around these materials and we ask you to reach out for details if you are able to support any of the project needs listed below.
The Walk Around the Pond
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Concrete Walkway
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Sur Pac Walkway
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Retaining Wall
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Pump House Decking
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Picnic Tables (8)
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Landscaping - Street trees along entry (12)
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Additional landscaping materials and plants
Covered Bridge Steel Materials
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Rods – 1”dia / 13’6” length (4)
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Top Plates – 10”x6” / 1” thick (4)
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Bottom Plates – 10”x10” / 1” thick (4)
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Hold Down Rods – 1.25 dia / 2’6” (4)
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Standing Seem Steel Roof – 22 gauge / 840 sq. ft.
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Miscellaneous Hardware
Covered Bridge Timber Materials
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Approach Rail – 2”x10” / 8’ length (8 ea)
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Approach Rail Post – 6”x8” / 6’6” (12 ea)
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Bearing Blocks – 10” / 1’ length (12 ea)
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Bridge Railing – 2”x10” / 8’ (min) length (8 ea)
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Floorbeams – 4”x10” / 16’ (min) length (900 L.F. total)
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Floor Decking – 2.5”x6” / 6’ (min) length (900 L.F. total
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Knee Bracing – 4”x6” / 3’ length (12 ea)
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Lower Lateral Cross Bracing – 6”x6” / 18’ length (10 ea)
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Purlins – 2”x3” / 6’ (min) length (22 ea)
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Rafters - 3”x6” / 11’ (22 ea)
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Siding – ¾” x 8½” / 12’ length (50)
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Sleeper Beams
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Timber Curbs – 8”x8” / 8’ (min) length (8 ea)
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Truss Chord (1) – 6”x10” / 13’ length (2 ea)
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Truss Chord (2) – 10”x10” / 18’ length (2 ea)
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Truss Chord (3) – 10”x10” / 18’ length (2 ea)
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Truss Diagonal (1 & 4) – 4”x10” / 14’6” length (4 ea)
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Truss Diagonal (2 & 3) – 3”x10” / 14’6” length (4 ea)
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Trunnels – 1” / 1’ length (12 ea)
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Lateral Cross Beam – 6”x8” / 17’ length (6 ea)
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Upper Lateral Cross Bracing – 6”x6” / 18’ length (10 ea)
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Runner Planks – 1.5”x6” / 8’ length (64 ea)
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Rafter Beams – 6”x10” / 9’ length (4 ea)
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End Posts – 8”x10” / 11’6” length (4 ea)
NOTE: Timber members shall be rough sawn, to the net dimensions (actual width and thickness dimensions) indicated for each member.
Siding shall be S4S surface finish.
We have received a donation of 13 logs, to date, from 2 different sources (Thank you!). We still need plenty more.
THE TRAIL AROUND THE POND
In 2015, Gunstock management was working with the SE Group on a number of improvements for the mountain and in particular the base area as part of a summer camp base area concept plan. Widely supported by the staff as a visually exciting and beautification project for the area surrounding the pond, we are reinstituting the plan as part of our project mission. Incorporating the covered bridge as a highlight over the dam, the accessible path around the circumference of the pond will include picnic tables, rest areas and landscaping.
Click on Map to Enlarge
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The Live Like Doug Educational Center organization, in a unique partnership with Gunstock Mountain Resort, is announcing an exciting new project enhancing the existing waterfront area near the Gunstock main lodge. The proposed project will incorporate features such as an accessible pedestrian covered bridge, a walking path, a pedestrian bridge to a small island, picnic tables and landscaping. Funding for the project will come from private contributions, grants and in-kind donations of time, labor and materials.
Enjoying the outdoors and being respectful of the natural resources we have at our doorstep are big draws to life in the Lakes Region. Being a visionary on how to merge the two takes creativity and restraint and those qualities were effervescent in J. Douglas Irving, a 40-year employee of Gunstock Resort and the heart and soul of the mountain during his tenure which ended in 2018 with his sudden passing. To honor Doug's legacy and work, a group of friends saw the inspiration and the desire to realize one of his visions at Gunstock. The Live Like Doug Educational Center was established, a registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, to support the efforts of completing a project that was part of a former plan and one of Doug’s visions.
That vision had been a plan created for the pond area at Gunstock a number of years ago that included a pedestrian covered bridge over the dam of the containment pond in front of the main lodge. In addition, there was an accessible pedestrian walkway that circled the pond and included landscaping and picnic or resting areas. This would be an accessible landscaped path open to any visitors to the mountain. In the winter, the plan is to build the covered bridge to support a small piston bully for grooming cross country ski trails through it, thereby affording a unique winter experience and year round use of the covered bridge trail.
